Cancer Discovery April - June 2009

In April, I discovered an unusual lump in my body and as soon as possible called my doctor. One week later, after two mammograms and an ultrasound, I received a diagnosis of ductile carcinoma insitu, or dcis for short. In laymen’s terms, this is non-invasive breast cancer. During a conference with my doctor of fifteen plus years, I was informed that the only course of treatment she could recommend was mastectomy. I immediately requested a three-week sabbatical as I found myself unwillingly submerged into a foreign world of second opinions, MRI’s, Ultrasound’s, genetic testing, and alternative therapies. My diet, which had been undergoing steady adjustments since my arrival at Martindale’s, also became severely restricted. My normal life became a whirlwind of emotions, life-changing decisions, doctors' visits and tests, tests, tests.

My friends urged me to obtain a second opinion to which I originally gave minimal thought because I so trusted the skill of my long-time attending surgeon. I am so grateful that I listened. The doctor recommended to me had been voted best in the Philadelphia area about eight out of the past ten years. He took about an hour to explain to me all the different options I had with this diagnosis and best of all he said he believed he could SAVE MY BREAST. He also gave me two extra weeks before surgery was required which gave me extra time to use alternative therapies. This made the decision for me. I also want to mention that his bedside manner gave new meaning to the term. I wish I could adopt him as my dad.

So I returned to work in the interim on a reduced work schedule after undergoing all the preliminary tests and setting a date for surgery. The next three weeks I felt as though I did not have one minute to myself between work, the alternative therapies, taking care of my house and most important, my prayer time. These were days that required my complete focus against an unseen enemy – some alien thing growing in my body. It is hard to describe the emotions one feels at such a time. It is nearly impossible to fully process as well as convey what it feels like to hear one, then two, then three medical professionals tell you that you could die in the prime of your life. I had walked through this same trauma with my oldest sister who died at the very young age of 35. However, I learned in just a few short days of receiving the diagnosis that whether or not one faces this type of situation with a loved one, it is a totally different prospect when you are the one with that diagnosis. It is an understatement to say that this kind of situation really puts your life into perspective. Although I have never believed I would do anything other than live until my late eighties like my parents, I still had to respect the fact that in some ways I was facing my own mortality. And, believe me, it changes you forever.

Some may wonder what it feels like to face major surgery for something like cancer. I can only say that, for me, life was too busy to really think about it. Then June 15th arrived. That was the day the surgeon agreed to examine me to see if the alternative therapies had produced the desired result in order to avoid surgery. His answer, after palpating the area, was that the tumor was still there and that I should report to the hospital on schedule. Even so, I was still hopeful that there would be some evidence of death within the tumor.